The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-06-23

Who not leave the violin here in safe
hands, and return to it refresLed?" l
bald hypocritically. Il should lose in
a week all have toiled for through
month";" she said, with a reproach.
full glance; and l demurred no longer.
Margaret then began to solemnly
roll the instrument of torture in
yard OF flannel, cover it further with
my blanket and an old silk handker-
chief OF generous dimensions. draw q
green baize bag over the Respondent
mahogany case, and fastening shawl
strap round the whole, declared it
ready for its travels.
My fears that the fiddle would be a
marplot throughout our Journey we're
not without foundation, and I soon
realized that as n trip for rest and
recreation ours was turning out O.
failure. From the start Margaret,
bewilded and overwhelmed with ad-
monitions every porter and railway
official who laid hold OF the baize bag
with its precious contents, watching
them with lynx eyes, and trotting
along beside any in whose glance
cleaned the unlawful fire of covetous-
ness.
At Rosenau there was a collision be-
tween the baize bag and a brass-nailed
trunk, and a hole was stove in the
side of the former. When Margaret
found a big scratch on the mahogany
case she sat down on truck and wept
| openly. AS we were to tarry a few
days at Rosenau begged my compan-
ion to have stout box of common
wood made for the fiddle to continue
its journey in, and send the too mag
niticent receptacle back to Munich.
| 10 this she consented, and when we
again set forth, the precious instru.
ment reposed in a black pine box of
gruesome shape. 1t was heavily and
and clumsily made, with key as big
as Mrs. Bluebeard's; it looked very
like small coffin; but it WAS cheap
and strong enough to resist any
amount of ill-usage.
! We stopped fortnight or more at
Haidentield, in the Southern Tyrol; q
pretty, restful nook, with deep lake
walled in by cloud-high mountains, a
half-ruined monastery, about which a
few spectral monks still lowered, and
an enticing maze OF walks through
heather fragrant pine. A place for
people not tiddle-ridden to en- Joy every
moment.
Margaret was not in a mood to en-
Joy the beauties of nature. Evening
after evening 1 sat alone in our little
balcony, watching the icy crest OF the
Adlerberg flush an exquisite pink in
the setting sun, and pale again to sill
very white. l longed for my friend 8
ear into which to pour my extrava-
CANT delight in this scene; but she was
in the back room wrestling with a
f]agelot tone or some other intricacy
she feared might escape her.
| saw clearly that Margaret's vaca-
ton was doing her no good, and l was
uneasy for her health. The study OF
the violin is a great strain upon the
strongest nerves and Margaret had
always been rather delicate. We had
both fallen under a baleful, uncanny
influence, and I devoutly wished that
Professor Mohr and Herr Bratwurst
might have played golden harps in
heaven before flashing Margaret into
this fiddle frenzy.
While my rival absorbed the great.
er part OF Margaret's time, l was
forced to shift for myself and make
the most of whatever amusement fell
in my way. A good-looking young
fellow, with curly black hair standing
straight up from his forehead, and the
merriest blue eyes ever saw, seemed
to understand my hard lot, and did
his best to ameliorate it.
Our acquaintance began by my in.
advertently stepping on him as he lay
half asleep i'll the shadow OF some
hawthorn bushes. His name was
Herbert Stacy. He was studying sculp.
ture, and he, too, was taking g. holi,
day rest in the Tyrol. We happened
to have some friends In common, sc
our acquaintance was quite proper
and l must confess that after it began
l felt q little less preyed upon by the
violin.
Margaret smiled benignly enough
on our incipient Irritation, but he,
thoughts scared above us, and she
let let us take frequent rambles alone
} l knew that the Hadiensee was q
beautiful. intense blue, and that thu
rhododendron covered the hard cheeks
; OF the mountains with a rich, lovely
blush, but l did not seem half to ap
preciate these glories till Mr.. STACY
pointed them out to me.
) One day he told me, with evident
regret, that he was obliged to set out
/ far Venice the next day, Queen Mar
gherita's birthday was approaching
/ There was to be fete of unus,,a
: magnificence on the Grand camel, ant
Mr.. Stay had promised some rela
tives OF his to be with them durin,
this celebration. 1t was an odd fancy
, going to Venice in the summer, bu
the journey was not very long, an(
their stay would be OF brief duration
> So our little idyl was to end abrupt
: ly, and should be left alone again
= We had quite an affecting parting
Mr.. Stacy kissed my hand very ten
derby, in continental fashion which
: liked very much. We exchanged souve
; Mrs. l gave him coin from m,
bangle, and he presented me with I
hollywood bear supporting ther
, mometer. The mercury in this wa!
detective, pointing always to sixty
five degrees, whatever the changes o
temperature, but l priced it far above
my other treasures.
My uncle Robert was to be in Ven
, ice for this same fete, had heard, anG
} so gave his address to Mr.. Stacy
thinking they might like to meet. The
latter seemed pleased, and said h.
would look up my relative without
} fail. How wished Margaret and
; might go too! But my slender purs,
would not permit SO expensive a jour
ney: Margaret could 80; but she, ou
of kindly consideration for me. Away!
cut her coat according to my meage1
} supply OF cloth, instead of indulgin,
in the ample garment her means al
lowed.
! After Herbert Stacy went, Haiden
: berg seemed unhearably dull, and a
} my request Margaret and wandered
to fresh pastures q lit tie farther South
!: Here received letter which sent mi
soaring into the seventh heaven of de
light. Uncle Robert sent me gener
GUS check, and begged Margaret ant
me to join at Venice for the fete. Hi
J wife's niece Miss Laurie, was with him
t and we should doubtless enjoy eacl
others aOciatv